Improvement in railroad-signals



AglR. SWIFT. Railroad-Signal.

No. 199,384. Patented Jan. 225187,18.

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N. PErERS, FHOTO-LITHORAPHER. WASH UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

AsA E. swIET, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD-SIGNALS.

Specification forming part o f Letters Patent No. 199,384, dated January 22, 1878,' application filed October 29, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ASA B. SWIFT, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railway-Train Signals, which is fully described in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure lrepresents a perspective view of mysignal, showing its relation to the depot and the railway-track. Fig. A2 shows an elevation of my signal, and the manner in which it is attached to the building, together with the attachment of the cord by which it is operated. Fig. 3 shows a detached view of the signal, with dotted lines showing its position when not in use. Fig. 4 shows a detached view of a plate which is attached to the signal-post. Fig. 5 shows a stop which is attached to the arm; and. Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of a central section, taken through the end of the arm and signal-post.

The object of my invention is to make a signal for signaling railway-trains that can be operated to signal the trains by the telegraph-operator with the least possible inconvenience, and by a device that is simple and effective; and my invention consists in the combination of the signal device with the operatizg-cords, by which it is operated, extending from the signal-post to a convenient point for operating the same, with suitable devices and stops to support and control the signal, as hereinafter more fully specified and shown.

A in the accompanying drawings represents the signal-board, and B a signal-lantern, both of which are attached to the rotating signal-post C. The board is intended for use by day and the lantern by night. D is a hollow arm, upon which the signal-post O is supported. This arm I preferably attach to the depot or other building in which the telegraph-operator has his office; but it may be attached to or supported by other suitable devices, by which it suspends the signal-post in View of the railway-track for a distance in either direction; but it is essential that the cords E E should extend from the signal-post to where they can be readily reached to operate the signal. A

The cord E is so attached to the signal-post that when it is drawn down and fastened, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, it throws the signal into position indicating a stoppage of the train. By unfastening the cord E and pulling down the cord E the signal is turned into the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and the lantern at the same time turned so as to show a different light, whereby it is known that the train is not signaled to stop.

F is a shouldered plate attached to the signal-post C so as to turn with it. Gr is a stationary stop-plate, against which the shoulders on' the plate F strike, so as to control the distance which the cords E E will revolve the signal-post C. This distance is such as to throw the signal into and out of positions above described. H are pulleys7 over which the cords E E run, where they change their direction.

It will be observed that the signal has a positive motion, and is operated without springs or other complicated appliances, but by simply two cords, with some stops, by which the extent of its motion is definitely xed, so that there is no danger but that the signal will, under all circumstances, be thrown into the position desired by the operator, and

be securely held there.

Having thus fully described my invention7 what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The signal-post C, in combination with the signalboards A and lantern B attached thereto, and the two independent cords .E E',

connected at one end to the pivoted post, and

extending directly to the operator, but disconnected throughout, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. The pivoted signal-post C, provided with a stop-disk, F, cut away as described, in combination with the stop Gr and the operatingcords E E', arranged and operating substantially as set forth. Y

J. C. MACGREGOR, L. A. BUNTING. 

